Continuing where we left off....
************
I see Kallen Kaslana at the door of my store with a beautiful smile hiding what she is feeling inside.
Kiana: Kallen? But how... Ah! Now it makes sense.
Kiana said this being confused for a moment until she understands something, I assume it has to do with Kallen.
I mentally take a deep breath preparing myself for the possible disaster that could happen.
Ritsuka:How are you, Kallen? You seem full of energy this morning. Aren't you supposed to be with Sakura?
I say this with a smile on my face disguising the fact that I'm nervous inside.
Kallen: I'm doing well and Sakura is with her little sister at the moment and she deserves to spend time with her.
Ritsuka: Oh. So why did you come here?
Kallen: I was talking to Otto until he told me that you opened your coffee shop, so I took advantage of my free time to come here.
Said Kallen and I look coldly at Otto who just calmly drinks a cup of coffee ignoring my aggressive look.
Elysia: Look, Kevin, you have another member of your family.
Elysia said, being excited to see Kallen while Kevin didn't seem to care much about it.
Kevin: I know.
Kevin responded calmly continuing to savor his drink.
Kiana:So you're the Kallen that Otto and Ritsuka know a lot.
Kiana said, with her arms crossed, approaching Kallen, who continued to smile.
Kallen: Hello, you must be Kiana, right? Hehehe..... Ritsuka really has an attraction to girls with white hair, doesn't he?
Ritsuka:I don't have that kind of attraction!
I say this blushing when I hear what Kallen said about me.
💭Just because I like a certain type of color doesn't mean I'm attracted to it!
Kiana: Really? So what is your relationship with my Ritsuka?
Kiana said this placing the word "mine" with emphasis. I could be wrong, but I swear I see sparks coming out of both of their eyes.
Kallen:Hmmm.... That's a difficult question. Am I his best friend? No.... Oh! His lover!
Kallen said so calmly that Elysia and Kiana were surprised and Otto almost choked on the coffee he was drinking.
Elysia:So... That means you and Kevin are family! Wonderful! Can I join?
Ritsuka:No! This will make the situation even more complicated!
Elysia:Awww..... But what's wrong with that? You and Kevin are good friends and I'm very close to you, so I don't see anything wrong with that.
Kevin: As he already said, you'll only make things more complex.
Kevin said, supporting me in this disaster, but I see Otto laughing at my misfortune.
Otto: I approve of that. It will make things more fun and interesting.
Ritsuka: Otto, I swear to God if you say one more shit, I'm really going to punch you!
While I'm trying to smooth over the confusion, Kallen and Kiana continue to argue.
Kiana: Really? Well, you know, grandma, I'm his wife, which means I'm in a higher rank than you.
Kiana said, teasing Kallen who almost couldn't keep her smile. And she looks at me briefly and she lets out a little laugh and that makes me worry.
Kallen:That could be true. However, I have something much more valuable that you don't have.
Kallen said with a confident smile teasing Kiana.
Kiana: What do you have that is superior to a marriage?
Kiana said this and I see Kallen approaching Kiana and she says something in her ear that immediately leaves Kiana in shock.
Kiana:What?!
Kiana said, not being able to believe what Kallen said to her and I see Kiana's gaze moving to Kallen's stomach.
Kallen:Hehehe.... Looks like I won this round. It was good to see you again, Ritsuka.
Said Kallen, approaching me and she gave me a quick kiss on my mouth and I heard a slight sigh of surprise coming from Elysia.
Elysia:My goodness, how bold she is. I like her!
Kallen: Thanks for the help, Otto. See you again, Ritsuka.
Said Kallen, leaving my store, leaving the atmosphere in my establishment strange.
Ritsuka:I'll go.... Go back to the kitchen...
I say this as I leave and go back to doing my work, not wanting to deal with the sinister look I'm receiving from Kiana.
(A/N: Kiana is a bit of a Yandere in these chapters)
*****************
Hours later
****************
Without me realizing it, the time to close the store arrived and I said goodbye to my friends and closed the store with the money we earned for the day.
The ride home was silent as Kiana didn't want to say anything to me and that makes me a little anxious.
We go back to the house and I decide to prepare things for dinner. During this Kiana stayed in the living room playing video games, I asked if she would go to the bathroom first, but she said I could go first.
I go to the bathroom and take off my clothes and get into the bathtub with the hot water.
Ritsuka:Ahhhh....
I say this letting out a sigh of relief, feeling all my stress leaving my body.
But before I could enjoy the water in the bathtub, I see the silhouette of someone behind the bathtub door and then Kiana opens the bathtub door.
Ritsuka:Didn't you tell me to go take a shower first?
I say this while maintaining my composure and to not lose focus or look at the rest of her tempting body, the fact that she is only holding a small towel that is not covering her body very well only worsens my concentration.
Kiana:I lied. What's wrong with us both taking a shower together? Or would you prefer Kallen to be here?
Kiana said showing that she is clearly jealous of Kallen.
Ritsuka: I didn't say that. You just caught me by surprise.
Kiana:Good.
Kiana said, entering the bathroom and she puts her feet in the bathtub and instead of her sitting towards me, she decides to sit between my legs.
Kiana:Ahhh.... The water is really good... I feel much better now.
Kiana said, letting her body touch my body and her head is resting on my shoulder.
(A/N: Kiana is 163cm tall, she is close to Ritsuka's height which is 175cm.)
With Kiana practically glued to me it's difficult for me not to look at her breasts that are in my view, even with the fog from the water I can see Kiana's naked body perfectly.
Kiana:Are you enjoying the view?
Ritsuka:I certainly am.
I say this by being completely honest with what I'm doing and Kiana gets a satisfying smile when she hears my answer.
Kiana: Good. Well, it looks like your little friend is wanting attention.
Kiana said this by placing her hand directly on my member and her action causes a reaction from me.
Then Kiana turns towards me and she looks directly into my eyes.
Kiana:I think it's time for me to remove that damn mark that grandma put on you.
Ritsuka: Really? Am I your property now?
I say this with one seeing Kiana hugging my body.
Kiana: Exactly. And I don't intend to share it with anyone else.... Well with the exception of Mei-senpai, but she's not here, so you're just mine. It is only I who can tame this BEAST that is inside you.
Kiana said this speaking softly in my ear which makes my body get goosebumps.
I decide to respond to her provocation when I decide to use my right hand to place two fingers in her "secret garden" and my fingers manage to enter very easily, after I make a few movements to test Kiana's reactions.
Kiana: Ah~
Kiana lets out a loud moan that catches me off guard and her legs close while my fingers are still inside her and the rest of her body is shaking a little.
💭Wait a minute.... It can't be..
Ritsuka: How suppressed are you?
Kiana:You have no idea, Ritsuka...
It was at that moment that Kiana surprised me when she decided to sit on top of my member, making me immediately feel the inside of her at the same time.
💭How tight!
Kiana: You have no idea how much I missed this.... Hehehe...
Kiana said looking at me and I don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to know how to feel the lust coming from her eyes.
💭Ohh boy.... I think I awakened something dangerous in this girl, but I like the danger.
It was at that moment that Kiana and I had fun in the bathroom and especially in the bedroom.
*************
Hours later
**************
After our "night activity", we are both in bed with only the blankets covering our bodies.
Kiana:You were too rough...
Kiana said, pouting, complaining about what we did in the bathroom.
Ritsuka: If I remember correctly, it was you who asked for this, in addition to the bites and the mark on my neck, in addition to the scratches on my back.
I say this calmly to Kiana who blushes with embarrassment.
Kiana: Hey! Don't say it so casually, it's shameful!
Kiana said, punching me weakly and that ends up making me laugh a little.
Ritsuka:Hahahahaha.... Ok. I'm not going to say anymore that you're much more honest and perverted.
Kiana: As if you weren't a pervert too....
Kiana said this with a mutter, stopping attacking me. There was silence between the two of us until Kiana started speaking again.
Kiana:Hey, Ritsuka.
Ritsuka:Yes?
Kiana: Have you ever thought about having children?
Kiana said in a shy tone and I stood still like a statue the moment I heard her saying that.
💭 Among all the conversations I imagined, this one wasn't on the list.
Ritsuka: Why that question, Kiana?
I say this in a calm tone taking this question seriously.
Kiana stays silent, organizing the words she's going to say to me.
Kiana: I sometimes dream of forgetting my duty and living a simple life, without Honkai problems, a Herrscher threatening the world or you having to carry the duty of protecting the Human Order.
Kiana said with a melancholic expression and she hugs me tightly as if she doesn't want to let go.
Kiana: Is it a sin to have the desire to abandon everything and be selfish to have my own happiness? Wanting to abandon the problems of the world, the weight of Fate and seek a life without having that to worry about?
Kiana said this and I am speechless to respond and Kiana continues talking.
Kiana: That's why I wish I had a child to take care of, I want to be able to experience what my mom and dad once experienced... I'm sure Mei-Senpai feels the same thing.
When I hear her saying the name of a woman called "Mei" I feel a slight headache in my mind as if my heart knows who that person is.
Ritsuka: I also have that desire. However, I am also aware of the reality of my life that even if I finish my journey I can no longer have a "normal life"..
💭No matter how hard I try.... No matter how much I force my smile.... I will never be able to get back what I lost. My hands are very dirty with blood.... My soul is certainly no longer human and I don't even need to say how distorted the world is for me.
Deep down I know how impossible this desire is. That even if I finish my journey, I can save the universe, will I really be able to be a simple student? After everything I've been through,what I have witnessed and seen it with my own eyes?
Kiana: Then why do you continue the fight? Why do you continue to follow this path?
Kiana asks me this question, a question I ask myself often.
Ritsuka:To live. I don't want to die, I refuse to let death take me before I finish what I started. Even though I have seen death in front of me many times, I am still afraid of it. Hehe... A person in my place would no longer be afraid of Death, but I still can't accept it... not yet. Besides, I have a lot of people counting on me, I made a lot of promises that I would get out of this alive and I can't ignore their wishes.
I say this being completely honest to Kiana who is still hugging me.
Kiana: It's for this reason and many others that I fell in love with you. Even in the face of your own death, you still have the willpower to continue fighting to change your Fate and to help others close to you.
Kiana said looking at me with a serene smile and suddenly I started to feel very sleepy.
Kiana: That's why I believe that even though it seems impossible...
This desire of ours...
It will come true one day.
****************
The next day...
****************
To my surprise this dream is not over yet, however, when I wake up with Kiana telling me that we need to go to a school called China Academy in Nagazora.
For some reason I feel a huge wave of nostalgia when I hear the name of the school, but I don't comment on it.
Kiana also said that today is not a work day, so I don't need to worry about that.
I find this strange, but I follow her idea. On the way to school I feel like I'm already in that place.
The feeling of déjà vu is too strong for me to take it as a simple coincidence.
Arriving at the school entrance, the nostalgic feeling becomes much stronger and suddenly I start to see several students entering the school.
They are ghosts or echoes of memory, but I wonder who these memories belong to?
Among the students I see Kiana and a beautiful girl with purple hair and to my shock I can see myself among them.
The three of us are wearing the school uniform and it looks like we are having a pleasant conversation.
Kiana:This place brings back so many memories.... Some are good... Others are bad. Lets go in.
The echoes quickly disappear, leaving me with a strange sensation.
💭What's going on? This is something that has never happened to me.
I enter the school following Kiana and it seems like she is leading me to the school roof.
Arriving on the school roof I again see echoes of memories of me, Kiana and the mysterious girl only this time I can hear what they are saying.
**********
Conversation between the echoes...
************
???: Kiana-chan, be careful not to choke.
Ritsuka:Is the food we make that good?
Kiana:Of course! Your food is divine!
Ritsuka:Don't talk with your mouth full.
???:Hehehe.... I still have a lot to learn compared to Ritsuka-kun's cooking.
Ritsuka: I'm still an amateur at food, Mei. It's true that I've taken some cooking lessons in the past, but that doesn't make me a professional.
Kiana:Ahhhh!!!! My God, what a difficult decision! You know what! I'll stay with you two!
Ritsuka:Please speak more clearly, Kiana. Me and Mei are not able to speak your language.
Mei:Hehe..
Kiana: I meant that I want to date both of you!
Mei:What?
Ritsuka:Kiana.... You know it's no longer possible to date two people we're not living in the medieval era anymore. Furthermore the second person would be a lover that I'm sure these things are no longer accepted.
Kiana:Seriously? I thought it was possible.
Mei:Kiana-chan....
Ritsuka: Kiana, you can be pretty and adorable sometimes, but even that doesn't defend you from being an idiot.
Mei: Huh?
Kiana: M-Me? Adorable? Hehehe... Look, Mei-senpai! Ritsuka-Senpai thinks I'm adorable!
Ritsuka: *sigh* She only hears what she wants to hear....
**************
End of conversation...
**************
The echoes disappear and Kiana stands near the edge admiring the view of the city.
Kiana: Those school days we were so innocent, me, Mei-Senpai and you had nothing but our studies to worry about. Unfortunately, those days didn't last long. Our lives changed and we had to save the world, which you're very used to at this point. Although you tried to be stubborn in bearing this weight of responsibility alone, Mei-senpai was just as stubborn as you.
At that moment another echo of memory appears only this time it was just me and Mei on a stormy night.
************
Another "conversation" between echoes....
***************
I find myself fighting Mei who has a very different appearance until her gentle expression is no longer present.
(Photo)
She and I are fighting hand to hand until for a moment I gain the advantage, but Mei immediately uses a power unknown to me and gives a blow that I manage to defend in time, but the impact of the attack throws me off the roof like a thunder.
But after a few seconds a purple light appears where I was and I fly back to the roof where Mei is.
I'm shocked to see myself wearing robotic samurai armor with two swords on my back.
(Photo)
Ritsuka:Stop now, Mei! It's an order.
Mei: You're always like this.... You're always like this Ritsuka. Even though you are close to death, you continue to care for us. You saved me. You saved us all with your shield. Yet you carry all this responsibility alone, with the world itself rejecting you.
Ritsuka:Do you think I do this because I want to, Mei?! If I could leave this job to someone else I would gladly do it, but that's not the reality of things! Himeko is dead! And now I have to make sure our team doesn't fall! If I don't do this, the world we live in will fall with it! And I can't allow that to happen and I don't agree with your decision!
Mei: Maybe it's for that reason... Maybe it's for the greater good.... But how can I expect that this is right? I do not accept this reality! I don't accept the rules of this world! I only know that deep down.... That this world means nothing to me... Without you in it!!!
At that moment Mei and I fought in the skies like two lightning strikes, one trying to make the other fall until it came to a moment where we were going to use our strongest attacks, Mei uses a giant katana and I transform my two swords into a bow and prepare to shoot her.
(Photo)
Our two attacks connect, causing an immense explosion of electricity that makes a huge opening in the clouds.
At the end of the fight Mei and I have our backs to each other.
Ritsuka:So..... You're really going to leave us.
Mei: I'm sorry, Ritsuka. This is my choice, whether you approve or not.
Ritsuka:.....Okay. Go. And don't look back. I'm going to tell Kiana what happened, she deserves to know this. Goodbye....Mei.
Mei:Goodbye, Ritsuka.
*********
End of the fight between couples....
**********
With that the echoes disappear and I start to feel weak.
Ritsuka: Tell me something, Kiana. Why did you bring me here? And what are these memories?
Kiana just looks at me now with a sad smile.
Kiana:I brought him to say goodbye to you and these memories are not mine, they are yours.
Kiana said, leaving me surprised with the revelation.
Ritsuka:But how? I don't know anything about this place?
Kiana: Well that's my fault. In fact everything you have experienced is the combination of my memories and yours. This dream world is all the result of my selfish desire.
Ritsuka:And what is this wish.
I say this using everything I have to keep me standing.
Kiana:To see you again. To feel your touch again. To live a happy dream with you at least once more. But unfortunately, it's time to wake up.
Kiana holds my body and she sits on the floor and puts my head in her lap.
Kiana: I knew from the beginning that "you" don't know me yet. That you will forget all this. But even so, I still wanted to see you again even though I knew all this...
Ritsuka:I don't understand.....
Kiana: You don't need to understand. What you need to understand is that you cannot allow darkness to take over your heart. Even if your path is difficult and very painful, you have the willpower to overcome these problems. Don't give up on your desire to be happy, even if you have blood on your hands, you deserve to have your own happiness.
Kiana said, stroking my head and I see my body slowly disappearing in golden lights.
Kiana:Damn. I wanted to spend more time with you. Unfortunately I will have to wait a little longer.
Kiana said, letting out a slight sigh of disappointment and I am left with an immense feeling of longing.
Ritsuka: I.... Will I be able to see you again, Kiana?
Kiana lets out a happy smile that manages to eliminate any kind of fear I had inside me.
Kiana: Wait and Hope. These are the words you told me in my darkest days. Never forget that your journey is towards the light. We'll see each other again, Ritsuka and when that happens we will be able to make our wishes come true.
With these words I close my eyes and my body disappears from her presence and the relationship between Kiana and me ends in the light of the sunset.
The End...